Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

does taken in reproductive collections were bred in February or later.
However, most of these cases appear to be site specific and most likely
the result of years of poor management practices. Sex ratios are unbalanced
and buck age structure is often very poor on most sites where
herds exhibit late breeding trends. Other indices, such as pregnancy
rates and overall fawn production, tend to be poor as well. Conversely,
on areas where genetic influence is not a factor (inherently favoring
early breeding), well managed herds typically have mean conception
dates in January—often with several animals in the sample having conception
dates in late-December and none with conception dates beyond
the month of January. Additionally, many of these well-managed herds
display peak breeding times in early- to mid-January.
Data from these reproductive collections suggest a correlation
between harvest management and deer reproductive patterns. Presumably,
deer reproduction is influenced by factors related to population
structure and genetics. Many biologists contend genetic origin dictates
a preset window of time in which breeding will normally take place.
Whether breeding takes place early, in the middle, or late in this window
is the result of deliberate management strategies or lack thereof.
Data collected over a 15-year period at Auburn University’s deer
research facility suggests no relationship between herd structure and
reproductive patterns. Captive deer maintained at a 1:1 adult sex ratio
did not show any shift in mean conception dates. Mean conception dates
for these deer were in early to mid-February (Carroll and Causey 1995).
However, in a 5-year study of free-ranging deer in Alabama, biologists
observed a two-week advance in mean conception date under an inten-
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